Austro-Hungarian Silver and Enamel Box - Antique Circa 1900

Description

This exceptional antique Austro-Hungarian silver and enamel box has a rectangular rounded form.

The surface of the box is embellished with exceptional guilloche enamel panels accented with plain silver gilt borders.

The rounded sides of the body are encompassed with an applied silver gilt foliate festoon decorated border.

This impressive antique silver enamel box is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover incorporating a rounded thumbpiece to the anterior edge.

The underside of the box bears the identical enamel decoration to the upper surface.

This impressive Austro-Hungarian box retains the original gilding; the gilt interior has worn with age in a sympathetic fashion to an aesthetically pleasing mellow colour.

The hallmarks struck to the interior of the box and cover include:

Maker's mark: R-S (untraced)

Assay mark: Dianakopf mark - A (Vienna, Austria)

Silver quality/purity mark: Dianakopf mark* (.900, 900/1000)

* This variation of the Dianakopf mark was used for Austro-Hungarian silver between 1872-1922; this mark, in addition to the style, determines the date of this box as circa 1900.

Learn more about the history of antique silver boxes